Numerous big names line New Orleans Saints' injury report

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; The first injury report for the New Orleans Saints for their key NFC South matchup Sunday is a lengthy one, as was the one for the host Atlanta Failcons .Several starters for New Orleans didn't practice Wednesday, Coach Sean Payton ...

The first injury report for the New Orleans Saints for their key NFC South matchup Sunday is a lengthy one, as was the one for the host Atlanta Failcons .Several starters for New Orleans didn't practice Wednesday, Coach Sean Payton said, including middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who was inactive for the second time last week and has been hampered by a knee injury for most of the season.

Vilma also has been dealing recently with what club officials characterized as a personal emergency that required him to be out of town and absent Monday night at his foundation signature fundraiser event in New Orleans
Payton was somewhat equivocal on Vilma's status.
"I'm hopeful, but we're also going to be pretty smart with the bye coming after this game," he said about whether Vilma would return quickly. "We'll try to keep you abreast each day here. Last week it was at a point where there was still enough soreness, he had missed enough snaps, and we decided not to play him. Looking back, I think it was the right decision. Jo-Lonn Dunbar did a very good job and got all the work during the week. We'll kind of monitor it this week much the same way and yet be real smart about it."

"hopeful, but we're also going to be pretty smart with the bye coming after this game" sounds to me like Payton-speak for he won't play.

The Falcons injury list sounds more like a Hollywood trick -- Tony Gonzalez, back injury, I don't buy it.... Yeah right, he is probably working out off the field with the drama coach, practicing his push offs and his "throw-the-flag" gesture. Working for that Oscar nomination in February from the Academy.

I'd like to see us go into this game against the Dirty Birds with all 4 healthy RBs just to cram it down their throats as much as possible, especially with all the injuries we have right now on the defensive side of the ball. We might as well stock the offense up to the hilt while our defense recovers from an outstanding performance against the Bucs last weekend.